Today I was able to spend a good two hours drawing and made nice progress on the big slabs of rocks of Takakkaw Falls ~

Takakkaw Falls, a graphite drawing (12×9) is being drawn on Bristol Vellum paper – using only 2H and HB graphite pencils, and a tortilum for blending. My objective is to use Sfumato technique (giving a smokey appearance, for this drawing it would be coming in from the sides), but I’m finding this takes a great deal of focus and discipline to not over do the rock formation details on both sides of the drawing – I hope I’m able to stick with the plan and not go overboard with detail. But darn I do love drawing rocks, for me it’s a relaxing and mesmerizing process building the character of the rocks (cracks, crevices and water stains) that I could do for hours. Which is what could also get me in trouble, again working in too much detail.

I see several areas that need more buildup of shading for the shape and form of some rocks that play a more significant role in the over all scene that I’ll take care of next week. In addition the other work will concentrate on the middle rocks immediately surrounding and are behind the falls.

Do you see the wolf head? Didn’t realize that the point I left off today, ending up looking just like a wolf looking down into the Falls – how funny! Thanks for checking in ~ click onto the image for a larger view.

Thanks Janell! You think he should stay too, well it looks like it may happen – we’ll see what happens when I get back into the drawing. It really was the funniest thing – never noticed until after the photograph was taken. It happened on one other painting I did a while back called, A Rough Sea (https://oilpastelsbymary.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=743&action=edit) that I painted back in 2013. The whole time I was painting the scene I never noticed the cross in the sky, literally saw it after I posted the final painting in a blog post. I agree, you never know when something will show up. Thanks so much Janell!

Mary, thanks for sharing your love of drawing rocks. Your description of your relaxing and mesmerizing process really spoke to me. When I’m in the writing zone I can feel the same way (almost NEVER happens though). 🙂 Look forward to seeing more of your drawing over the next few weeks.

Hi Geralyn, thanks very much. Interesting and I’ll bet as a writer your mental process is similar. It usually happens when drawing rocks or water – there is something about the process of looking and discovering patterns within the subjects. Just love it. Have a lovely weekend up North!

Mary, you are so lovely to ask about my next gown!
Well, I just finished my job, (w/Kim Cattrall) and have been putting my life in order. It was crazy, 14-16 hour days!
I should be working on it next week. The gown has been partly draped on Judy since April!
I am very excited to get back to it!
Looking forward to see if the wolf head survives the falls!

Oh come on Prospero you do see it too, right?! But of course you do, come on admit it!! Ah Cynthia, but you know her pareidolic tendencies is what brings a bit of intrigue and mystery. Thanks so much and hope you have a very creative-writing weekend, head-pat to Princess Ariel.

Hi Patsy, thanks very much and I can understand. It’s very hard not to draw in a lot of detail especially with this scene, but that’s a goal so I’m trying to stick with it. Oh you have to look closely, but he’s there – by mistake, but none-the-less he has showed in the drawing and will be hard not to keep him in the scene.

You’re welcome! Currently, I am going to be drawing fantasy characters like what and who you would find in a Dungeons and Dragons game. I have drawn some dragons in the past, but plan to do more. I don’t think I’ve ever posted them on my blog, but I won’t be able to post anything for a couple of weeks since my husband and daughter took the camera on their trip. My phone won’t do it. I will look for him again in your drawing!

Pretty cool right Cynthia – I didn’t see it until after I had finished taking the photograph and thought don’t change it, it’s interesting element. Ah a saint, never know what might appear – thank you my friend. This scene might take a bit longer to develop, I’ve a few ideas to try as I near the end of the project. Have a lovely weekend.